Golf is Becoming Accessible Again
600 years later and golf is again more accessible to all.
Scotland in the 15th century was the home to two different versions of the sport of golf. The first, and one that resembles traditional golf as we know it today, is called long golf. This was played by nobles and the elite and was a very formal and elegant affair with 18-holes of extensively regulated play. Secondly, there was short golf which is finally making a comeback in a number of different ways.
Short golf was played by the lower class in the streets and church courtyards beginning in the 1400s. This sport was usually played on Sundays, Holidays and festival days when the lower class and rural folks came into the towns. David Hamilton’s “Golf: Scotland’s Game” does not show evidence for an exact set of rules for short golf, but it is believed to not be very rigid. Players used only one club and alcohol was usually present in hand, making the sport quite dangerous (a spectator in Keslo was killed by a rogue ball in 1632). Eventually a ban was placed on the sport by the Scottish kings and parliament because it was a nuisance and distracted the commoners from their proper work.
Long golf has persisted as an expensive sport that is designed for those that can afford it. From club costs to greens fees and cart rentals, a day on the course is not so easily accessible for the less-than-wealthy.
From simulator golf to golf with relaxed rules and golf in non-standard six- and 12-hole loops, to the GolfBoard, there are so many ways for everyone to enjoy the amazing sport of golf within their skill set and financial means. Short golf has taken a variety of different directions nowadays, and is becoming much more easily accessible to all.
Topgolf
Topgolf is the closest thing to the original game of short golf available today. This chain of driving ranges with concentric-ring target and automatic electronic scoring (think bowling alley style) is played in a small area that looks like a combination of a driving range and batting cages. Points are tracked through a micro chip in the player’s ball and the amount of points earned depends on accuracy and distance of the drive. Alcohol is still very much a part of the game, but the game is much safer than the 15th century version…perfect for date night!
FootGolf
This take on golf is great for adults and kids alike! FootGolf involves kicking a soccer ball through the golf course and into 21-inch diameter cups. FootGolf is only 9 holes instead of 18 like in traditional golf. Soccer is the fastest growing sport in America right now, so maybe FootGolf is exactly the segway that golf needs to help get more youths involved and excited about the game. Check out these FootGolf courses in Northern Nevada!
Silver Oak Golf and Event Center
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